Articles Posted in Child Sexually Abusive Actvity or Materials

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In Saline County, AR, the small community of Haskell is divided in their reactions to the arrest of 32-year-old Kyle Vaughan, who was arrested recently and fired from his job as a Haskell police officer, charged with sexual assault involving a juvenile, and child pornography. Michigan High Court Considers the Term “Possession of Child Pornography” Pic

According to news reports, the Haskell Police Dept. is located directly across the street from the school, and officers direct school traffic. Some parents and grandparents are shocked at the fact that a potential child predator could have been watching over their children, while those who know Vaughn have a difficult time believing the accusations are true, calling him “a family man, not a pedophile.”

Arkansas State Police took Vaughn into custody on the afternoon of Monday, August 17. At the time of news reports, he was being held in the Saline County Jail on charges of computer child pornography, failure to report, distribution or possession of material depicting explicit images, and second-degree sexual assault on a juvenile. Authorities began investigating Vaughn in May of this year. He has been terminated from the Haskell Police Dept.

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On Monday, March 9, 23-year-old Kevin Motyka of Howell Township, NJ pleaded guilty to allegations that he sexually assaulted a 2-year-old boy between May and December of 2012. Motyka pleaded guilty to child endangerment, aggravated sexual assault, and other charges. He also reportedly recorded the sexual assault on the toddler. Michigan High Court Considers the Term “Possession of Child Pornography” Pic

In 2014, prosecutors received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Motyka’s actions; he was then arrested.

In all, Motyka pleaded guilty on Monday to three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, manufacturing child pornography, and distributing child pornography. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct with a child, according to a news article at the Howell Patch. Motyka also allegedly distributed child pornography including images that were of other children and not the toddler he is accused of sexually assaulting.

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Recently, a 63-year-old Flint man whose name has not been revealed as he is awaiting arraignment was charged with 18 counts of criminal sexual conduct and child pornography. The man, who was arrested in Kentucky, is being extradited back to Genesee County for court proceedings, according to news reports. At the time, it was not known if the suspect would fight the extradition. camera-1432435-1-m

A warrant for the man’s arrest was authorized by the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office in late September, according to Prosecutor David Leyton.

The man is charged in all with 18 counts including two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, seven counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and nine counts which are related to the manufacture, possession, and distribution of child pornography. Charges were filed after one of the alleged victims told a family member about the abuse, which occurred in Flint. Apparently, the alleged victim told her cousin about the abuse which led to further family discussion about the matter.

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On Friday April 25, a 22-year-old Lowell area man was arrested and jailed in the Kent County Jail on chtravis-charles-stiehlarges related to child pornography, according to news reports at Fox 17 and Mlive.com. Travis Stiehl, who once lived at a residence in Lowell with his mother in which a child day care was operated, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations special agents and state police.

Stiehl was charged with two counts of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of child sexually abusive activity, according to reports. He was arrested at an Auto Zone where he was employed full time. Stiehl allegedly made three videos which included prepubescent, unclothed boys. In Michigan, individuals found guilty of manufacturing child pornography face a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Authorities found child pornography on the computer which was located inside the Lowell home that Stiehl and his mother shared. While his mother ran a licensed day care, the license was revoked after authorities discovered what was going on inside the home, although Stiehl’s mother claimed to have had no idea of the activity her son was engaging in. Continue reading

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cuffs-keysBrian Sevrey, a 56-year-old Cadillac man who is accused of child pornography, was facing state charges in Wexford County in connection with allegedly sexually exploiting a 2-year-old girl, according to news articles at Mlive.com.  Sevrey will now face federal charges as an indictment has been filed and Sevrey transferred to Grand Rapids from the Wexford County Jail.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was notified by Google; Michigan State Police were then notified by the agency of Sevrey’s activities which allegedly included using a computer to commit a crime.  In all, Sevrey faces five charges which include child sexually abusive activity and distributing child pornography.  If convicted of the charges against him, Sevrey will spend a minimum of 15 years in prison, and up to 30.

Court records revealed that Sevrey had the 2-year-old girl engage in conduct that was “sexually explicit” so that he could photograph her private areas.  According to the indictment filed in Grand Rapids U.S. District Court, the defendant also touched the girl while photographing her.  Sevrey was scheduled for an arraignment and detention hearing on April 28 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh Brenneman Jr., and is being held without bond. Continue reading

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martin-barkOn April 23, a man and woman who were once Mecosta County Township officials pleaded no contest to charges stemming from an investigation into sexual assault and child abuse, according to a news article at Mlive.com.  48-year-old Cathleen Martin pleaded no contest to third-degree child abuse, while 71-year-old Jack Bark pleaded no contest to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Both Martin and Bark resigned their positions with the township just after the sexual allegations were revealed.  Martin was the township’s clerk, while Bark was Fork Township supervisor.  Each of the two was employed by the township for approximately 20 years.  While Martin is married to another man according to authorities, she and Bark reportedly live together in Barryton.

Prior to pleading no contest to the charges, Bark and Martin were facing multiple charges which included first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the most serious sex charge in Michigan which involves penetration.  Bark was also facing second-degree CSC while Martin was facing charges of first- and second-degree child abuse. Bark and Martin are alleged to have begun assaulting three of Martin’s relatives in 2009.  A sentencing date had not been revealed at the time of news reports, although the two defendants were lodged on a $5 million bond. Continue reading

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internet-dangerEarlier this month, a Kentwood man was arrested for allegedly producing child pornography and using Skype to distribute it on the Internet, according to a news article at Mlive.com.  28-year-old Clint Andrews Williamson is accused of sexually assaulting a 2-year-old relative.  Williamson has been charged with one count of distributing child pornography over the Internet, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for producing child pornography.

FBI began investigating Williamson, who they believed was using a website dedicated to child pornography sharing.  The website allegedly is not accessible via Google, and can be used only by individuals who know the specific address.  Timothy Simon, FBI special agent, said that Maryland police are investigating the website, which includes forums with members who talk about how to avoid trouble in the CP world, violent sexual assaults of young children, and even killing children.  Simon said that the primary purpose of the website’s bulletin board is for users to advertise and distribute child porn.

Investigators found that the website had nearly 7,800 members after seizing the computer where the site was hosted in August.  After an extensive investigation, Williamson was identified as a member going by the user name of “thefristcatsiam.”  Simon wrote that last year, Williamson posted images of a naked man and young girl on the website.  Prior to Christmas 2013, Williamson’s Kentwood home was searched by police.  In journals he kept after his home was raided, Williamson described himself as a “monster.” Continue reading

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On Monday March 31, Jackson County District Judge Michael Klaeren found that there was probable cause to send the case of a 73-year-old Jackson man accused of sexually abusing three young girls to circuit court. Dwight Edward Rupert has been charged with four counts each of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in a case involving three girls he once babysat, according to news reports at Mlive.com. grandpa-in-the-fields-148180-m

The alleged victims who are now ages 7, 8, and 9, testified on Monday in a courtroom which was closed to the public. The three girls are sisters according to the report, two of them biological sisters and one a stepsister. The girls were allegedly sexually abused between June of 2011 and May of 2013. Rupert is accused of touching the girls in a sexual manner during this time, and committing acts that involve penetration with two of the victims.

Rupert was considered “family,” according to the 9-year-old girl’s mother, who said that the girl’s grandmother and Rupert’s wife are close friends. She testified that she contacted authorities last summer after she and her husband were told bout the sexual abuse by the girls.

If convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Rupert could spend the rest of his life in prison.

First-degree CSC is the most serious of all sex crimes, and involves penetration. Individuals who are found guilty of this offense may be sentenced to a maximum prison term of life in prison.

Criminal cases involving young children are extremely delicate. While there is no doubt that children are sexually abused every day in our country, there are also many instances in which innocent individuals are falsely accused of these heinous crimes. Children are easily influenced, and often coerced by adults to make up stories that aren’t true. Hopefully the truth will win out in this case.

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Derik Eugene Rothrock, a 34-year-old registered sex offender from Kalamazoo, is expected to spend at least 15 years in federal prison for allegedly receiving child pornography, according to news reports at Mlive.com. Rothrock was expected to be in Grand Rapids federal court on Friday March 7 where he would plead guilty to a single count superseding indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography.3d-illustration-of-computer-technologies--concept-notebook-1398484-m

News reports claim Rothrock persuaded three young girls to send naked photos of themselves to him via text message in 2013. Rothrock was charged with one count each of committing a felony involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender, possession of child pornography, and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. These charges will be dismissed when Rothrock is sentenced under the terms of a plea agreement the defendant signed on February 26.

Rothrock is alleged to have had the girls, who were 12, 14, and 15, send him nude photos using their cell phones. This activity occurred in July of last year in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties. The defendant also took a sexually explicit photo of the 14-year-old girl using his own cell phone, according to the indictment.

Due to his prior conviction for second-degree CSC in Branch County, Rothrock potentially faces enhanced penalties and may be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison according to the plea agreement. He will spend at least 15 years in prison.

Criminal penalties for sex-related offenses are extremely harsh in Michigan. As is evidenced above, those who are registered sex offenders face penalties which are even more harsh. Regardless of whether an individual has been convicted of a sex crime in the past, charges of first-degree criminal conduct, the most serious of all, will leave a defendant potentially facing spending the rest of his or her life behind bars.

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Earlier this month we wrote about James Alfred Beckman, a Mattawan man who was charged with multiple counts in the sexual abuse of two boys. Now, Justin Robert Hughes is facing felony charges after federal prosecutors claimed Hughes requested child pornography from Beckman, according to a news article at Mlive.com. hand-on-keyboard-1260787-m.jpg

According to court documents filed in a Grand Rapids U.S. District Court last week, Hughes is charged with enticement of a child and coercion after allegedly sending messages requesting that Beckman sexually abuse two boys who were younger than 10 years old. Hughes allegedly sent the messages to Beckman via Yahoo! Messenger.

Prosecutors believe that Hughes requested Beckman send him live video of the two boys engaging in conduct with Beckman that is described as “sexually explicit.” The criminal sexual activity is believed to have taken place during the time period from March to July 2012, according to investigators.

James Alfred Beckman was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and six counts of sexual exploitation of a child. His trial date has been scheduled before U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff on January 28.

Hughes’ laptop computer was seized by investigators who believe he used the laptop to receive the video requested from Beckman, and to communicate with him.

Individuals who are accused of enticing or soliciting a minor for sex or immoral purposes will face serious criminal penalties if convicted. According to MCL 750.145a, those who allegedly commit this offense which does not require use of the Internet, may face up to four years in prison and fines of up to $4,000. However, the use of the Internet to entice or solicit a child who is younger than 18 for sexual purposes is defined under MCL 750.145d, and may leave the accused facing up to 20 years in prison. News reports do not indicate when Hughes is expected to appear in court again, however if convicted he may face harsh punishment.

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